Flexible terminal for ignition wires



R. w. BENSETT FLEXIBLE TERMINAL FOR IGNITION WIRES Filed Feb. 19, 1920 wvaMto a Zra 71 36725626 Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

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RICHARD W. BENSETT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS COR- PORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FLEXIBLE TERMINAL FOR IGNITION WIRES.

Application filed February 19, 1920. Serial No. 360,022.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, RICHARD W. BENSETT, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof New York, county of New York, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Terminals for Ignition Wires, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which the invention relates to make and use the same, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

The invention relates to connections for electric terminals and particularly to a novel form of resilient connector which ,may be advantageously employed in connecting the secondary or high tension wires of an ignition system to the spark plugs of an internal combustion engine. I

In connectors of this type the provision of means whereby the wire terminals may be quickly and easily connected to or disconnected from the spark plugs is of especial advantage, and terminals have already been constructed having this purpose in view. The primary object of my invention is to improve the construction of terminals of this character, and more specifically to provide a I terminal which may exert resilient pressure between the contact surfaces of the respective conductors, which shall not be liable to accidental separation under normal conditions, and which shall be capable of being veryi readily removed and replaced when de- .s1re

With the above and other objects in view as will appear from the following description my invention includes a terminal hav- 40. in a loopv formed of resilient wire preferab y in the form of a coil, suitably connected to a conducting wire or the like, and adapted to en age with a groove or other co-opcrating ormation of another conductor, as

.for example, a spark plug terminal.

In theaccompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment of. my invention:

. Fig. 11 is a plan viewof the terminal engaging with a spark plug.

5o. Fig. 2 is a perspective viewx'of the same,

' and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the terminal, per se.

In the drawing 1 indicates a spark plug shell having the usual insulator 2. Within the insulator is the sparkplug terminal 3 which in this case is somewhat rounded on the upper end and provided below the end with a groove 4, a knob or head being thus formed on the upper end of the said terminal.

The resilient terminal is constituted by a 100 5 of coiled spring wire, within the coil of which is an annulus 6 which may be of heavy gage wire. This annulus may be provided with a lateral extension or shank 7 on which, if desired, screw threads may be formed. The annulus and lateral extension may thus resemble in form or may even be constituted by an ordinary screw-eye.

The shank 7 will be suitably connected to the wire or wires 8 leading from the hi h tension coil of the ignition apparatus, tie wire or wires being enclosed in the usual insulatin body 9, preferably of rubber, and the s eeve 10, preferably of fiber. This connection may be made by simply screwing the shank 7 into the end of the insulating sleeve in contact with the wire or wires 8. The ends of the spring coil 5 may be held together in any desired manner, as, for example,'by means of a ring or loop 11.

In the operation of the invention, as will be clear from the foregoing description, the terminal will be applied by merely pressing 85 the spring coil downwardly upon the head or knob of the spark plug conductor when the coil will easily pass over the said knob and engage resiliently in the groove 4, this providing sufiicient contact for the transmission of the high tension current and at the same time securely but resiliently maintaining the terminal in position. It will be understood that the supporting element shown as an an nulus 6, will be chosen of such diameter and made from stock of such size as to permit the turns of the coil 5 to yield outwardl to the extent necessary to pass over the knob on the spark plug and to return inwardly, due to their natural resilience, sufliciently to 100 seat in the groove 4.

WhileI have described one embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the in- 105 vention and therefore I do not wish to be limited to the specific details of construction above set forth.

I claim:

1. An electric terminal comprising a conductor, a conducting annulus arranged in conducting relation to said conductor, and a loop of coiled spring wire supported upon said annulus with the latter passing through the coils of the loop and arranged in conducting relation thereto whereb high tension current may be transmitted from said conductor through said annulus and loop to a terminal with which the loop is engaged.

2-. The combination with an electric terminal having a head and a groove below said head of a cooperating terminal comprising V a conductor wire, a. conducting annulus arto said terminal. I

ranged in conducting relation to said wire,

and a loop of coiled resilient wire mount- 15 ed upon said annulus with the latter passin through the coils of said loop and arrange in conducting relation thereto, the coils of said loop bein seated in said groove and readily removaile therefrom over said head 20 by expansion of said loop, the engagement of said coils in said groove permitting free deflection of said conductor wire relatively In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RICHARD W. BENSETT. 

